Device for operating on shoe bottoms



Oct 10 1967 E. o. PETERSQN DEVICE FOR OPERATING ON SHOE BOTTOMSIIII'III'II' Filed Feb, ll, 1966 UCL w 1967 E. o. PETERSON DEVICE FOROPERATING ON SHOE BOTTOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. ll, 1966 C- w m67E. o. PETERSON DEVICE FOR OPERATING ON SHOE BOTTOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Feb. ll, 1966 Oct. 10 967 E. o. PETERSON DEVICE FOR OPERATING ONSHOE BOTTOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. ll, 1966 United States PatentOffice 3,345,669 Patented Got. 1G, 1957 3,345,660 DEVISE FR GPERATING NSHOE BOTTQMS Evafd 0. Peterson, Lynnlieid Center, Mass., assigner toCompo Shoe Machinery Corporation, Waltham, Mass., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Feb. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 526,868 26 Claims. (Cl. 1216.4)

This invention relates to machines for operating on the bottoms of shoesand especially to a device for imparting a high degree of union andconformity of outsoles to shoe bottoms.

Machines of the foregoing kind generally embody a yieldable pad uponwhich the shoe with an outsole temporarily or permanently attached toits bottom is placed whereupon pressure-applying means is brought tobear on the last, for example, at the top, toe and back side of the heelto press the bottom of the shoe into the pad so that attaching andconforming pressure will be applied substantially uniformly throughoutthe entire area of the outsole in spite of the non-uniform contour ofthe bottom. Various kinds of pads and supports for -pads have beendevised heretofore, none of which have proved wholly satisfactory forshoes of all styles. Accordingly, the principal objects of thisinvention are to provide an improved machine embodying an improved padadapted to be used for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes ofdifferent styles and size and especially for high heel and low heelshoes; to provide a pad which can be easily adjusted when required forextreme changes in style; to provide a pad with a high degree ofaccommodation to deep shanks particularly in high heel shoes; to providea pad, the area of which may be varied within limits, for shoes ofdifferent size and with means for controlling the pressureapplying areaof the pad; and to provide a pad of the infiatable kind which isdurable, highly conformable and simply constructed.

As herein illustrated, the device embodies a pad having an upper surfaceextensive enough to make contact with the entire tread surface of theoutsole, the exposed surface of the arch and the breast surface of theheel and is supported in the approximate geometry of the bottom of theshoe by angularly disposed parts adjustable relative to each other to anangular disposition such that a surface of one confronts the sole of theshoe and the surface of the other confronts the breast surface of theheel of the shoe which is to be operated on. The pad rests on theconfronting surfaces of the parts and upon fiexible meansinterconnecting the parts which support the pad intermediate the partsin confronting engagement with the shank of the shoe. Thesole-supporting part, hereinafter referred to as the sole plate, issupported for tilting downwardly relative to its forward end and theheel-supporting part, hereinafter referred to as the heel plate, issupported for movement bodily forwardly and `rearwardly relative to thesole plate and angularly about horizontally spaced parallel axesparallel to the axis on which the sole plate is supported. A shaftsupports the sole plate for tilting about a horizontal axis and there isan arm secured thereto by means of which it may be tilted and secured inany one of several predetermined positions. The pad is inflatable, therear end portion is secured to the rear side of the heel plate, theportion forwardly thereof rests on the fiexible means and sole plate,and there is a suitable connection to the pad to enable inflating it andhence to press the upper surface against the bottom of the shoesupported on its surface, The shoe is held against the pad duringiniiation by a jack embodying means engageable with the top of the lastand the toe of the shoe and by a heel clamp engageable with the backside of the heel. The heel clamp comprises a pad supported rearwardly ofthe heel plate which has a forwardly facing yieldable surfacecomplementary to the back side of the heel. There is means for effectingmovement of the heel clamp forwardly relative to the heel plate to clampthe breast of the heel against the pad at the rear side of the heelplate, means supporting the heel clamp for pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis parallel to the axes in which the sole and heel platesare pivotally supported, means for controlling the angular adjustment ofthe heel clamp and means for permitting the heel clamp to moveheightwise relative to the heel as it is brought into engagementtherewith to accommodate itself to the contour thereof. A maskcontaining an opening corresponding generally to the projection of ashoe bottom on a flat surface is secured above the pad and is operableto constrain inflation of the pad so that the pressure is appliedcomparatively uniformly to the entire area. Additionally, there is anauxiliary mask at the toe, having a toe-shaped recess, movablerearwardly toward the toe of the shoe resting on the pad to enableexercising control for differences in length which are of much greatertmagnitude than those in width. A leather apron of the generalconfiguration of the bottom of a shoe overlies the pad.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevation of the device omitting the means for applyingholding pressure to the top and toe of the last, but including a heelclamp;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pad illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation as seen from the right-hand end of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of a portion of an inflatable tube whichconstitutes the bottom-engaging portion of the pad;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the articulated part of the padsupport and its connection to the rigid parts thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation diagrammatically illustrating a shoeresting on the pad with the latter inflated so as to apply conformingpressure to the sole, shank and breast surfaces of the shoe; and

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. '7, showing theconformation of the pad to the bottom ofthe shoe at the forepart.

Referring to the dawings (FIG. 7), the apparatus comprises a flexible,yieldable pad l0 of sufficient area to receive substantially the entirebottom surface of a shoe placed thereon, to wit, the tread and shanksurfaces of the sole and the breast surface of the heel; means 12 forsupporting the pad inthe general configuration of the bottom of a shoe;and hold-down means comprising a jack 14 for engagement with the top ofthe last, a toe clamp 16 for engagement with the toe of the lasted upperand a heel clamp 18 for engagement with the back side of the heel.

The pad l@ and supporting means l2 therefor are mounted in a pad box 2d(FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) of substantially rectangular cross-section comprisedof a base plate 22 (FG. 3) to the opposite longitudinal edges of whichare bolted vertical side plates 24-2i- One end of the structure isclosed by an end plate 2d bolted thereto and the other end is open. Abearing 23 (FIG. 3) having a base 3i! and transversely spaced,vertically disposed limbs 32-32 is fastened to the base plate 22adjacent the open end by bolts 3d. The limbs 32-32 contain bearingopenings 36 and 38 Within which there is rotatably mounted a shaft d@for rotation about a horizontal axis. A bracket 42 is mounted on theshaft 40 between the limbs 152-32 and is keyed to the shaft for rotationwith the shaft. The upper end of the bracket has a flange 44 to which arigid plate 46 (FIG. 7) of substantially rectangular configuration isfastened by means of bolts 48. The plate 46 comprises one component ofthe pad support and corresponds substantially in width to the distancebetween the side walls 24-24 and in length to the length of the treadsurface of the sole of a shoe of the largest size that might be expectedto be encountered and is referred to hereinafter as the "sole plate. Aplate 50, hereinafter referred to as a heel plate is mountedtransversely of the box, rearwardly of the bearing 28, in a rearwardlyinclined position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, by means of bolts 52screwed into the opposite edges of the heel plate 50 through verticallyspaced, elongate arcuate slots 54 (FIG. l) in the side walls 24-24 whichthus enable adjustment of the heel plate 50 bodily, forwardly andrearwardly with respect to the bearing 28 and angularly about the axesof the bolts 52. The heel plate 50 extends upwardly to near the top ofthe box 2G and its upper end is spaced from the rear end of the soleplate 46. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, an articulated member56 is designed to connect the rear end of the sole plate 46 with theupper end of the heel plate 50. The articulated member 56 comprises aplurality of pivotally connected links 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63 and 65,the first of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the heelplate 50 and the last of which is pivotally connected to the rear end ofthe sole plate 46.

The pad is in the form of a flattened hollow tube 70 which extends fromthe forward end of the sole plate rearwardly over the articulatedmember, the upper end of the heel plate and downwardly against the rearside of the heel plate. A flat plate 78 is secured by bolts 80 to therear side of the heel plate against the downwardly extending portion ofthe tube, sealing the lower end of the tube and securing it to the heelplate. The plate 78 contains a longitudinally extending slot extendingdownwardly from its upper end, which is long enough and wide enough toreceive the breast surface of the heel of any shoe expected to beoperated on and through which the breast surface of the heel may havecontact with the pad. When inilated the pad will conform to thecurvature of the breast surface and will prevent damage to the heel byclamping. The tube forwardly of the heel plate rests loosely over thearticulated member and sole plate and is unsecured at its forward end sothat it is free to move longitudinally thus permitting foreshorteningsuch as is bound to take place during infiation without distortion. Theforward end of the tube is sealed between clamp bars 72, 74.

A metal grommet 82 (FIG. 2) is set into the lower wall of the tube 70within which there is mounted the upper end of a flexible pipe 84 (FIG.l), the lower end of which is adapted to be connected to a source of airpressure (not shown) so as to enable infiating the tube.

A masking plate 86 is mounted above the sole plate 46 and tube 7d forlimiting the inflation of the tube and is supported parallel to the soleplate 46 by spaced parallel side walls 88-88 (FIG. 3) interposed betweenthe opposite edges of the sole plate 46 and the masking plate 86 alongthe sides and an end plate 90 interposed between the ends of the soleplate 46 and masking plate 86. The masking plate 86, as illustrated inFIG. 2, extends from the forward end of the sole plate 46 rearwardly toapproximately the rear end of the sole plate 46 and contains an opening92 which corresponds generally in shape to an enlarged projection of thebottom of a sole on a flat plane and is wide enough and deep enough toaccommodate a shoe of the largest size expected to be operated on.

An auxiliary masking plate 94 is mounted above the masking plate 36between a pair of spaced parallel gibs 96-96 for movement rearwardlytoward the toe of a 'shoe resting on the pad to further restrict thearea of 4 the pad which may be infiated. Movement of the auxiliarymasking plate 94 is effected by a lever 98 which is pivotally secured atone end to one of the gibs 96 by a screw bolt 100 and intermediate itsends to the auxiliary mahking plate 94 by a screw bolt 102. The oppositeend of the lever 98 extends laterally in a horizontal plane from oneside of the pad box and may be grasped to push the masking plate 94forwardly or rearwardly as desired. The masking plate 94 contains anopening 104 corresponding generally in shape to the toe of a shoe sothat rearward movement of the masking plate 94 restricts the infiationof the tube more or less uniformly around the toe end of the shoe.

In order to reinforce the upper wall of the tube against wear and toprovide a smooth firm surface for contact with the bottom of the shoe,an apron 93, wide at the forepart 95 and narrowed down at the shank 97,is placed over the upper wall `of the pad with the forepart clampedbetween the masking plate 86 and the pad and the rear extremity of theshank 97 folded over onto the back side of the heel plate 50 and securedbetween the plate 78 and the pad.

The support for the pad 10, as related, comprises the rigid sole plate46, the rigid heel plate 50 and the articulated means 56 therebetween,and these components provide for adjusting the upper surface of the padto approximate the cont-our or geometry of the bottom of a shoe prior tothe application thereto of pressure. Adjustment of the sole plate 46 isaccomplished by rotation of the shaft 40 and for this purpose the shaft40 has a part extending laterally 4from the box through a bearing 106supported in one of the side walls 24 (FIG. 3). The outer extremity ofthe shaft 40 is milled off to provide a square portion 108 and one endof an arm 110 is mounted on the square portion 108 and secured theretoby a screw bolt 112. The arm is supported parallel to the wall 24,extends rearwardly from the shaft and has at its rear end a handle 114comprising a spindle 116 (FIG. 2), to the outer end of which is secureda sleeve 118. The inner end of the spindle 116 extends through the arm110 and has on it a latchbolt 120 for engagement with one of a number ofspaced holes 122 formed in the wall 24 about the axis of the shaft 40. Aspring 123, coiled about the spindle 116 and constrained in tensionbetween the outer end of the sleeve 118 and the arm 110, normallyoperates to hold the latchbolt 120 engaged within one of the holes. Bypulling outwardly on the sleeve 118, the spindle 116 may be drawnoutwardly against the tension in the spring 123 to withdraw thelatch-bolt 120 and thereby to permit rotating the arm in a direction t-ochange the angle of the sole plate 46.

Having adjusted the pad-supporting components 46, 50 and 56, so thatthey respectively confront the sole, shank and breast surface of theheel of the shoe to be operated on, a shoe is placed on the pad (FIG. 7)with the heel at the rear side of the heel plate Sti and the sole on thepad above the sole plate 46. In order to clamp the heel against the heelplate to establish a fixed longitudinal position, the heel clamp 1S isnow brought into engagement with the rear side of the heel, as shown inFIG. 7. The heel clamp is supported by a bracket 126 mounted on the rearwall 26 of the pad box and comprises a channel plate 128 having at itsrear end an arm 130 pivotally supported on a horizontal pin 132 (FIG.4), the opposite ends of which are in turn supported between arms134-134 at the forward end of a slide 136. A slide block 138, providedwith laterally extending shoulders 14H-140 for engagement with thechannel plate 128, is mounted in the channel for movement up and downrelative to the bottom of the pad box. A flexible cushion 142 isfastened to the forward side of the slide block 138 by screw bolts 146extending through the slide and threaded into threaded blocks 148embedded in the cushion 142. The forward side of the cushion 142, asshown at 140 (FIG. 4), is concave and asiatici) shaped to accommodatethe rear curved surface of the heel of a shoe.

A pin 152 is fixed to each side of the channel plate 128 (FIG. 1)intermediate the top and bottom and the upper ends 154-154 of a pair oftension springs 155-155 are anchored to these pins. The lower ends ofthe springs 155-155 are connected to the slide block 138 so as toyieldably hold the slide in an elevated position with respect to thechannel, in which position the upper en-d of the slide block 138 issubstantially ush with the upper end of the channel plate 128 (FIG. 1).The springs 155-155 permit the slide block 138 and hence the cushion 142to move downwardly to adjust itself to the contour of a specic heel. Alocking screw 129 is threaded through the side of the channel intoengagement with the shoulder on the slide block and is provided with ahandle 131 to enable setting it against the shoulder to hold the slideblock in a selected position. The cushion 142 is normally held at apredetermined rearwardly inclined position against an adjustable pin 168by a pair of springs 162-162. The forward ends of the springs areanchored to the opposite ends of a pin 164 fixed to the rear side of thechannel plate 128 and the rear ends are anchored to the opposite ends ofa pin 166 which is xed to a post 168 rising from the upper side of theslide 136. To provide adjustment of the pin 160, the rear end isjournaled in the upper end of the post 168 and is threaded and hasmounted on it a knurled nut 170 by means of which it may be advanced orretracted relative to the channel plate 128. The heel clamp 18 is alsoadjustable bodily, forwardly and rearwardly relative to the heel plate50 and this is provided for by the slide 136 which is slidably supportedon the bracket 126 between gibs 172-172 for sliding movement forwardlyand rearwardly. A motor 174 is mounted on the bracket 126 rearwardly ofthe slide 136 and has a forwardly projecting rod 176 fixed in the post168, so that by supplying iiuid pressure to the motor 174, the slide 136and hence the heel clamp 18 may be moved forwardly or rearwardly for thepurpose of accommodating a heel of a given size and applying pressure tohold the breast of the heel against the pad at the rear side of the heelplate 50.

In using the apparatus described above, the pad-supporting components 46and 50 are adjusted to the approximate angular relation of the sole tothe breast of the heel, so as to confront the sole and heelrespectively, the shoe is placed on the uninflated pad with the forepartresting on the portion of the pad supported by the rigid sole plate 46,the heel engaged With the portion of the pad at the rear side of therigid heel plate 58 and the shank opposite the articulated portion 56,pressure is supplied to the motor 174 to advance the heel clamp 18 intoengagement with the heel of the shoe to clamp the breast of the heelagainst the heel plate, the hold-down parts 14 and 16 are lowered intoengagement with the top of the last and the toe of the shoe and thenpressure is admitted to the pad 78 to inate it. If the shoe is ofrelatively large size the masking plate S6 may be sufficient to confinethe inflation to an area such as to provide for the proper amount ofwrap-around. If, however, the shoe is quite short in relation to theoverall length ofthe pad, the auxiliary plate 94 may be moved rearwardlyto restrict the amount of the pad which may be iniiated.

The pad box may be employed with any conventional hold-down means andpreferably there are sequence valves operable to effect successivemovement of the heel clamp and hold-down means into position to clampthe shoe on the pad, inflate the pad, hold the inflation for apredetermined period of time and then release the finished shoe.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illust-ration only and that this invention includes al1 modificaitonsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for operating on the bottoms of shoes cornd prising aflexible pad and means supporting the pad for disposition in theapproximate geometry of the bottom of the shoe to be operated oncomprising angularly disposed parts adjustable relative to each other toan angular disposition such that a surface of one confronts the sole ofthe shoe and a surface of the other confronts the breast of the heel,means securing the pad at one end, and iiexible means interconnectingthe parts throughout relative movement of the parts operable to supportthe pad intermediate the parts in confronting engagement with the shankof the shoe resting on the pad.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the part confronting the soleis pivotally supported for angular movement about a horizontal axis todispose its confronting surface at an inclination correspondingsubstantially to the slope of the thread surface of the sole, and thepart confronting the breast of the heel iS supported for adjustmentabout horizontal axes to dispose its confronting surface at an anglecorresponding substantially to the slope of the breast surface of theheel.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the part confronting the soleis a flat rigid sole plate, :a bearing at the underside of the soleplate supports it for tilting to enable disposing the surfaceconfronting the sole at an inclination corresponding to the slope of thetread surface of the sole in relation to the angular disposition of thebreast surface of the heel, the part confronting the heel is a flatrigid heel plate, and means supports the heel plate for movement bodily,forwardly and rearwardly relative to the sole plate land angularly aboutspaced parallel axes parallel to the axis of rotation of the sole plate.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein a rotatable shaft supports thepart confronting the sole for tilting of the part downwardly relative toits forward end to a position such that the inclination of the surfaceconfronting the so-le corresponds to that which the tread surface of thesole bears to the breast surface of the heel, an arm is rigidly securedat one end to the shaft, said arm extending rearwardly from the shafttoward the heel end of the device, and there is means at the rear end ofthe arm operable to hold the arm at any one of a pluraiity of positionsspaced about the axis of said shaft as a center for holding said partconfronting the sole in any one of a plurality of angular positionsrelative to the part confronting the breast of the heel.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the part confronting thebreast of the heel is supported rearwardly of the part confronting thesole for movement bodily forwardly and rearwardly relative to the partconfronting the sole and for movement about spaced parallel axesparallel to the axis of the shaft supporting t-he part confronting thesole.

6. A device according to claim '1, wherein the flexible part isarticulated and is pivotally connected at its opposite ends,respectively, to the upper end of the part confronting the breast of theheel and the rear end of the part confronting the sole.

7. A device according to claim l, wherein the flexible part is comprisedof a plurality of parallel `bars pivotally connected to eaoh other andto the parts for flexing about axes parallel to the axes about which theparts are adjustable relative to each other.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein -a rigid box having a `bottomand spaced parallel side walls rising therefrom provides a support, ashaft is disposed transversely of the box with its ends rotatablysupported in the side walls, and said part confronting the sole issupported by the shaft, the side walls rearwardly of the partconfronting the sole contain vertically spaced slots, and screw boltslocated in said slots support the part confronting the breast of theheel between said walls.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein a rigid masking plate having arecess complementary in shape to the 7 sole of the shoe but a largerarea is secured adjacent the upper face of the pad to limit upwardbulging of the pad and to conne such bulging to the shape of the sole.

10. A device laccording to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary rigid maskingplate having a recess complementary in shape to the sole at the toe butof larger area is secured adjacent the pad for movement rearwardlytoward the toe of the shoe to reduce the unsupported area of the pad,and there is a lever operably connected to the auxiliary masking plateoperable to move it relative to the toe to adjustably restrict theunsupported area of the pad for the size of the shoe being operated on.

11. A device -according to claim 1, wherein the pad is an inflatabletube substantially coextensive with the confronting surfaces of saidrigid parts and with the confronting surface of the flexible part and issecured at one end to the rear side of the part confronting the heel.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein there is tan inflatable tubecoextensive with the confronting surfaces of the parts, said tube beingclosed at its ends, and there is means for inflating the tube.

13. A device laccording to claim 12, wherein the tube is initiallysubstantially flat having spaced parallel walls which lie flat on thesupporting parts when the tube is uninated.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein -a heel clamp is provided,there is means supporting the heel clamp for angular movement about ahorizontal axis to permit the clamp to assume the inclination of theback of the heel, `and there is power-operable means connected to theheel clamp operable to advance it into engagement with the back of theheel to press the breast `of the heel against the pad at the rear sideof the part confronting the breast of the heel.

15, A device according to claim 1, wherein there is a heel clamp, thereis means supporting the heel clamp at the back side of the heel formovement bodily relative to the plate confronting the heel, and there ispower-operable means connected to the heel clamp operable to advance theheel clamp into engagement with the back of the heel to press the breastof the heel against the pad at the rear side of the part confronting thebreast of the heel.

16. A device according to claim 1S, wherein the heel clamp is movableheightwise of the heel and there is yieldable means supporting the heelclamp at the upper extremity of its heightwise movement.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein there is means pivotallysupporting the heel clamp at the rear side of the heel for pivotalmovement about an axis parallel to the axes about which the parts areadjustable.

18. A device according to claim 14, wherein the heel clamp has a surfaceconfronting the back side of the heel which is substantiallycomplementary to the profile of the surface of the heel at the backside, an adjustable stop is supported at the rear side of the clamp, andyieldable means normally holds the clamp against the stop with itsconfronting surface inclined at the approximate angle of the rear sideof the heel.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein a heel clamp is providedcomprising a rigid channel plate; a slide mounted on the channel platefor movement parallel to the plate; yieldable means connected,respectively, to the upper end of the channel plate and to the lower endof the slide normally holding the slide in its uppermost position butpermitting the slide to be depressed downwardly; a cushion fixed to theexposed forward face of the slide,

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said cushion having a contour corresponding to the protile of the rearside of the heel; a bracket supporting the channel plate for rotationabout a horizontal axis parallel -to the axes of adjustment of the partsand for movement bodily, forwardly, relative to the part confronting theheel; an adjustable member mounted on the bracket behind the channelwith an end engaged therewith, said adjustable member being operable toadjust the angular position of the clamp about said horizontal axis; andyieldable means connected to the channel and to the bracket `yieldablyholding the channel against the adjustable member.

Ztl. A device according to claim 8, wherein a handle is secured at oneend to the shaft and is operable to rotate r the shaft and hence thepart confronting the sole to an inclined position relative to the partconfronting the breast of the heel, and there is spring-pressed means atthe opposite end of the handle, selectively engageable with any one of aplurality of holes in the side wall with which 'the handle is parallel,to hold the part confronting the sole at a selected angular position.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein an apron overlies and issupported by the pad comprised of a smooth firm material clampedtogether with the pad to the means supporting the pad, said apron havinga wide forepart and narrow shank part.

22. A device according to claim l, wherein the pad comprises aninflatable member resting on said supporting means with one end securedand the remainder unsecured.

23. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pad comprises arelatively flat tube adapted to be inflated, one end of the tube beingsecured to the rear side of the part confronting the heel and theremainder being unsecured but confined at its sides and at its other endbetween the parts of the support confronting the shank and sole and themasking plate.

24. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pad comprises a normallyflat, substantially rectangular elastomeric tube adapted to be inflatedand a leather apron longitudinally, substantially coextensive with thetube, said apron corresponding substantially in shape to the bottom ofthe shoe at the forepart and shank, said tube and apron having portionsextending over the upper end of the part confronting the heel anddownwardly along the rear side thereof which are clamped to said partand portions forwardly thereof which rest on the parts confronting theshank and sole, said latter parts being unsecured but constrainedbetween said parts and said mask.

25. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pad is an inflatabletube, substantially coextensive with the confronting surfaces of therigid and flexible parts, and a fiat plate bolted to the partconfronting the breast surface of the heel secures the portion of thetube at the rear side of said part thereto, said plate containing a slotat least as wide and long as the area of the breast surface of the heelto `be operated on through which the breast surface of the heel hascontact with the pad.

26. A device according to claims 1 and 25, wherein a leather apronoverlies and is anchored, together with the tube, to the rear side ofthe part confronting the breast of the heel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,916,750 12/1959 Ralphs et al.l2-l6-4 X 3,090,056 5/1963 Lorenz 12-38 PATRICK D. LAWSON, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A DEVICE FOR OPERATING ON THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES COMPRISING A FLEXIBLEPAD AND MEANS SUPPORTING THE PAD FOR DISPOSITION IN THE APPROXIMATEGEOMETRY OF THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOE TO BE OPERATED ON COMPRISINGANGULARLY DISPOSED PARTS ADJUSTABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO AN ANGULARDISPOSITION SUCH THAT A SURFACE OF ONE CONFRONTS THE SOLE OF THE SHOEAND A SURFACE OF THE OTHER CONFRONTS THE BREAST OF THE HEEL, MEANSSECURING THE PAD AT ONE END, AND FLEXIBLE MEANS INTERCONNECTING THEPARTS THROUGHOUT RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE PARTS OPERABLE TO SUPPORT THEPAD INTERMEDIATE THE PARTS IN CONFRONTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHANK OFTHE SHOE RESTING ON THE PAD.